TRINITY – After dipping slightly in April, Trinity County’s May unemployment rate climbed up to 7.6 percent, according to the latest figures posted by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
Although down from March’s 7.9 percent jobless rate, the new May figure is still over the 7 percent mark and is the highest recorded for the month in recent memory.
One year ago, the local May 2008 rate stood at 5.1 percent.
 May’s 7.6 percent rate translates to mean that out of an estimated labor force of 5,989 people, there were 456 county residents looking for jobs during the month.
In May, the TWC estimated the county had 5,923 workers with 427 of them looking for jobs.
Statewide, May’s actual unem­ployment rate of 6.9 percent was up from the 6.4 percent figure posted in April. It was up from the 4.5 percent rate recorded for May 2008.
When seasonal factors are added to the equation, the state’s May adjusted unemployment rate was listed at 7.1 percent and was up from the 6.6 percent figure posted in April. The latest season­ally adjusted rate also was up from the 4.7 percent figure re­corded in May 2008.
The actual national unemploy­ment rate for May was listed at 9.1 percent, which was also up from the 8.6 percent rate posted in April. It was substantially up from the 5.2 rate set one year ago in May 2008.
May’s sea­sonally adjusted U.S. rate of 9.4 percent was up from the 8.9 percent figure recorded in April and up from the 5.2 percent figure posted in May 2008.
In the report, TWC officials noted that the state’s seasonally adjusted rate has consistently remained well below the national rate for the past year
Nonagricultural employment fell by 24,700 jobs in May. Texas recorded a net loss of 222,600 jobs in the past 12 months, compared with job losses of 5.4 million nationwide during the same period.
“The Texas unemployment rate continued to follow the national unemployment rate’s upward trend,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken.
“Few industries were spared in May as Texas employers continued to report job losses. Continued unemployment claims increased in Texas as well,” he added.
Texas saw broad industry losses in May. Hardest hit were the Manufacturing sector with a loss of 12,800 jobs over the month and the Construction sector with a loss of 10,400 jobs.
“Texas workers are facing a tight job market as employers across most industries reported job losses in May,” said TWC Labor Commissioner Ronny Congleton. “Job search assistance is available from TWC and 28 workforce boards across the state.”
Education and Health Services remained bright spots in the Texas economy with an additional 5,800 jobs in May for a gain of 59,600 jobs over the year.
The “Other Services” industry, which includes automotive, electronic and commercial repair and maintenance, grew by 5,200 jobs during the month.
“While our unemployment rate rose in May, it does remain 2.3 percentage points below the national rate, and Texas experienced job growth in education and health care,” said TWC Public Commissioner Andres Alcantar. “TWC and the workforce centers around the state remain focused on helping Texans find jobs.”
Of the state’s 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the high­est jobless rate was the 9.4 percent figure recorded for the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA.
Next was the 9.1 percent rate posted the Beaumont-Port Arthur MSAs and the 9.0 rate listed for the Brownsville-Harlingen MSA. The El Paso MSA followed at 8.3 percent and the Laredo MSA at 7.8 percent.
The MSA with the lowest unem­ployment during the month was the Lubbock MSA at 4.6 percent. The Amarillo MSA was next at 4.7 percent, fol­lowed by the College Station-Bryan  at 4.9 percent.
Unemployment rates posted for other East Texas counties include:
                          
   MAY             %

COUNTY         RATE     CHANGE

Anderson               7.6            +0.4
Angelina                8.1            +0.7
Cherokee               8.5            +0.7
Grimes                    8.0            +0.9
Harris                     6.9            +0.6
Houston                 8.2            +0.7
Jasper                     9.2            +0.9
Jefferson                9.0            +0.7
Leon                       6.3            +0.5
Liberty                   9.3            +1.1
Madison                7.1            +0.8
Montgomery         6.4            +0.6
Nacogdoches        5.6            +0.3
Polk                        8.3            +0.5
Sabine                  14.0            +1.1
San Augustine      9.7            +0.6
San Jacinto           8.0            +0.8
Shelby                    6.2            +0.3
Trinity                   7.6            +0.4
Tyler                       9.2            +1.1
Walker                   6.0            +0.4